marking one year since October 7th

By Jake

7 October 2024

Hamas militants killed and kidnapped innocents at Kibbutz Be’eri in the Negev desert, one year ago today. “Be’eri was well known for its pro-peace sympathies: It had a special fund to give financial help to Gazans who came to the kibbutz on work permits, and kibbutzniks would often volunteer to drive sick Palestinians to an oncology center in southern Israel.” (Photo Credit Navcoo on Shutterstock, Quote by Bret Stephens NYT 10 November 2023)

One year ago, I remember my heart clenching in my chest as I heard the news of the Hamas terror attack against a music festival and nearby kibbutzim in Israel. The date - October 7th, 2023 - immediately became notorious for the worst reasons, similar to September 11th, 2001. And like 9/11, the attack against innocents triggered war that will have ramifications for years to come.

Kohlton and I started ONE as a reaction to the rocket war in May 2021. This war dwarfs that conflict in terms of impact and significance. Early analysts were quick to compare the conflict to the Yom Kippur war of 1973, in which an Arab coalition launched a surprise attack and were pushed back on multiple fronts by Israeli forces. But that war lasted two weeks and five days - we stand at 365 days since Hamas’ instigation, and there is little end in sight as Israel opens up a new front in the north.

Thinking over the last year, my mind flips through tragedy after tragedy. I think of the hostages taken by Hamas, some freed, some still held by Hamas, and some whose bodies were recovered, having been shot only hours before potential rescue. I think of the destroyed infrastructure in Gaza, of the homes, schools, and clinics that will be unable to support a dense civilian population for years to come. I think of the tens of thousands of civilians forced to leave their homes in Northern Israel under fear of missile fire, not knowing when they will return. I think of the stalled and ineffective negotiations. I think of surgeries and births without anesthesia, of a manufactured humanitarian crisis. I think of an American government owned by warmongers building an “aid delivery pier” that barely worked before breaking. I think of self-immolations and global protests. I think of pager explosions, public shootings, land grabs, and the targeted killing of aid workers. I think of places of worship and history defiled by new conflict. I dread escalation between Israel and Iran, which can only lead to greater war, more deaths, more refugees, and less respect for the dignity of each human life. Each of these, and the countless cases I haven’t mentioned, make the conversation about Israel/Palestine that much harder, but also that much more necessary.

I speak for the board when I state the following: the death of innocents, destruction of homes, and displacement of civilians is unacceptable. For all those that say war is inevitable, that the Middle East has always been tearing itself apart, we say no. We point to historical times where Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived together in Jerusalem/al-Quds in relative peace. All terror groups, war criminals, and deniers of statehood spit on that history, or twist it to meet their ends. We hope to see a day where Israeli and Palestinian statehood and security are achieved and mutually supported, with equal access to holy places like the Dome of the Rock. Our daily discussions in the ONE server are steps, however small, to that future. We thank you for your participation, we ask you to invite others, and we look forward to your feedback as we continue our efforts, including research into raising money for a charity helping those affected by the current conflict. I, personally, will pray for those killed brutally one year ago today. May their memories be a blessing, and may we create a world where that attack can never happen again.

Want to have conversations like these? Consider joining our community discord server to join in the discussion.

Did you enjoy this piece? Please leave a like and a comment to help support this website so more can access it.